West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[Columbuseer]

FYI

• Some West Liberty stats moved both up and down after the MEC tourney, due to the stiff competition and 3 games in three days.
• The stats that are totaled over the entire season are now becoming biased toward those teams that continue to play in the post-season (like Total Free Throws Attempted)
• Points per possession for an amazing 1.25 points per possession.
• West Liberty is in the top 4 nationally in 8 categories!
• West Liberty is in the top 10 nationally in 10 categories!
• 90^th percentile in 14 categories!
• WLU season FG shooting remains at 4^th in nation at FG 51.57%
• WLU 3FG% edged downward to 38.48% (22^nd in nation)
• Assists are #2, at 20.2 a game, which is an indicator of how much they share the ball, especially when one considers the scoop and scores on steals, which are generally not applicable for assists
• Assist to turnover ratio is 4^th at an amazing 1.66, considering the rapid pace of play and the increased number of possessions in a game.
• Turnover margin at #3 (+6.3 per game), could improve even more.

Date	National Ranking	West Liberty rank	Value
3/6/2022	Scoring Offense	1	100.00
3/6/2022	Scoring Margin	2	19
3/6/2022	Assists Per Game	2	20.20
3/6/2022	Steals Per Game	3	10.70
3/6/2022	Turnover Margin	3	6.50
3/6/2022	Turnovers Forced	3	18.74
3/6/2022	Assist Turnover Ratio	4	1.66
3/6/2022	Field-Goal Percentage	4	51.57
3/6/2022	Free-Throw Attempts	8	660
3/6/2022	Three-Point Field Goals Per Game	10	10.50
3/6/2022	Three-Point Attempts	12	842
3/6/2022	Free-Throw Made	12	479
3/6/2022	Offensive Rebounds per game	16	13.10
3/6/2022	Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage	22	38.48
3/6/2022	Rebound Margin	35	4.00
3/6/2022	Total Rebounds per game	35	38.77
3/6/2022	Blocked Shots Per Game	60	3.60
3/6/2022	Free-Throw Percentage	111	72.58
3/6/2022	Defensive Rebounds per game	147	25.68
3/6/2022	Field-Goal Percentage Defense	202	45.60

[Columbuseer]

McManus must be a nightmare for the referees. His primary offensive strategy is to simply overpower you, and he does so by planting his shoulder into the defender's chest and moving him. If the referees call it straight up (at least MEC style), McManus would have 5 fouls in the first 10 minutes of every game. So, the refs often have to decide to let him get away with a certain amount of it. But then they're left later in the game to figure out where to draw the line. And when they do decide to draw the line--often somewhat arbitrarily--then Osborne is upset that the charges are getting called now. McManus just presents a lose-lose situation for the refs. McManus would fit right in the old-time PSAC, but he's a unicorn in the MEC, so MECs refs often have no idea what to do with him.

Imho, playing a dominant low post player like mcmanus is a choice between 2 primary strategies (among others):

1) play in front of the post player to deny the ball. It requires coordination with the on ball defender to harass and make the entry looping high pass as difficult as possible. Takes significant energy by both defenders to make it work. Vulnerable to looping pass over defender's head, but this is a challenging pass. This is my preference

2) play behind the post player and try to contest shot without fouling. Non trivial task with McManus because he initiates contact. On ball defender also needs to try to deny entry pass, which is a much easier pass to execute than option 1. An adjunct option is to have a guard collapse after mcmanus takes first dribble to make him pick up the ball and disrupt his rhythym. Then the guard must sprint away to resume defending his opponent. Vulnerable to the kick out pass for an open three.

wlu tried option 2 with no guard help at first. They then tried option 1, which made mcmanus expend a lot of energy.
when wlu was caught behind mcmanus, bryce was adept at drawing charges, probably he was used to defending low post In high school.

We collapsed with a guard on occasion in option 2 to mix it up, and fortunately no one burned us with a three. We also baited them in a zone and quickly triple teamed, forcing a turnover. Great one time defensive set to steal a possession.

[Columbuseer]

MEC tournament

Yep. I meant MEC tourney.

[Layton]

...I'm pretty sure it is?

MEC tournament

[Inkblot]

I am not a fan of the 3 games in 3 days format. IMHO, the championship game should be preceded by a day of rest.

...I'm pretty sure it is?

[Scrub]

McManus must be a nightmare for the referees. His primary offensive strategy is to simply overpower you, and he does so by planting his shoulder into the defender's chest and moving him. If the referees call it straight up (at least MEC style), McManus would have 5 fouls in the first 10 minutes of every game. So, the refs often have to decide to let him get away with a certain amount of it. But then they're left later in the game to figure out where to draw the line. And when they do decide to draw the line--often somewhat arbitrarily--then Osborne is upset that the charges are getting called now. McManus just presents a lose-lose situation for the refs. McManus would fit right in the old-time PSAC, but he's a unicorn in the MEC, so MECs refs often have no idea what to do with him.

[Columbuseer]

I am not a fan of the 3 games in 3 days format of the MEC tourney. IMHO, the championship game should be preceded by a day of rest. I think it would allow for a higher quality game. IMHO, the current setup favors a team with quality depth, like WLU.

This game proved that WLU has the defensive chops to play a half-court defensive, slow-down game against a big, physical team with good guards.
WLU outscored UC 36-16 in the last 13:43 of the game, coming back from an 8 point deficit.
With 3:30 left, the WLU lead was three, until WLU outscored UC 13-5 in the remainder of the game.

UC Strategy

• UC is a tall team that also has three-point shooters.
• They will try to draw fouls from WLU in the paint.
• Have a good shooting night
• If UC breaks the press, they will not attack the rim in most cases; they will wait and start their offense and use much of the shot clock to shorten the game.
• They will attack the boards hard to try to reduce WLU dominance on the boards.
• They must play great defense/

UC checked many of the boxes that were goals for beating WLU:

• • Limit turnovers
• UC goals that were not met

Keys to WLU Victory

• Intense Defense (both trapping and half-court defense) and active hands by the guards
• Intense pressure causing fatigue, which IMHO led to poor FT %, for a team playing 3^rd game in 3 days. In a tight game, the pressure causes just enough mental lapses to give WLU an edge, such as the UC player losing track of time and getting a 10 second call.
• Unselfish play to avoid getting baited to go inside and try difficult, contested shots
• FT shooting % was difference in score.

Statistic	WLU	Opponent	Advantage To:
Team	WLU	Charleston - MEC Tourney
Date	03/06/22	3/6/2022
Score	70-59		WLU
w/l	W	L	WLU
FG	24	23	=
FGA	58	61	UC
FG Pct	41%	38%	WLU
3FG	3	2	=
3 FGA	17	17	=
3 FG PCT	18%	12%	=
FT	19	11	WLU
FTA	26	19	WLU
FT PCT	73%	58%	WLU
Off Reb	12	12	=
Def Reb	28	24	WLU
Tot Reb	40	36	WLU
Reb Per Game	38.8	33.9	WLU
PF	21	26	WLU
Assist	10	8	WLU
TO	12	15	WLU
Blk	2	1	WLU
Stl	7	6	=
Pts	70	59	WLU
Avg Pts Per Game	100.0	80.0	WLU
Steals per Forced TO	47%	50%	UC
Assist to TO Ratio	0.83	0.53	WLU
Assist per FG	42%	35%	WLU
Points Per FGA	1.21	0.97	WLU
Points Per Possession	1.01	0.82	WLU
Num Possessions	69	72	=
OppDefReb	24	28	WLU
Off Reb Effic	33%	30%	=
Forced TO	15	12	WLU
Game num	31	31	=
Two Pt FG %	51.2%	47.7%	WLU
Effective Shooting %	44.0%	39.3%	WLU

[boatcapt]

The MEC tourney demonstrated the versatility and grittiness of wlu. This is a different team from the traditional wlu team that depended on good three point shooting.

wheeling, fairmont and Charleston all used different strategies with considerable success and wlu weathered them despite some sub-par aspects of their games.

Unlike past teams, this team has the defensive half court chops to play a 1940s era low scoring half court high post low post game. We now have 4 players who can guard a post player in Viktor, Marlon, Bryce, and Sarson. We also have lockdown defensive guards.

Wvsu is a huge challenge. If they are clicking they can dominate. Took out embry riddle. Arguably best overall collection of 1-on-1 athletes in mec.

Good thing we dont depend on good 3pt shooting because on several occasions, it has let us down. To say they are streaky is an understatement...this team can go from shooting 52% from 3 (vs Wheeling the last game of the season) to 20% from 3 (Wheeling) to 52% (Fairmont game) the next night then shooting 17% (UC game) the next night!!

[Columbuseer]

Yup. State is always scary--especially when they're actually motivated (and what's more motivating than a one-and-done scenario?). The thing I hate most about the first round games against a conference opponent (at least in the case of WLU) is that the element of surprise is off the table. WVSU knows exactly what to expect and exactly what speed it'll come at you (whereas, someone like Malone was a little caught off guard last year). It seemed like in the past, much of WLU's success in this tournament traditionally hinged on teams being unfamiliar with what they do or how fast it actually comes at you when you're in it.

possible silver lining:
If we can somehow get by wvsu, it only gives psac teams one day or so to prepare for us. Last year hillsdale coach said it was very hard to prepare for wlu with just one days rest.

[Scrub]

Wvsu is a huge challenge. If they are clicking they can dominate. Took out embry riddle. Arguably best overall collection of 1-on-1 athletes in mec.

Yup. State is always scary--especially when they're actually motivated (and what's more motivating than a one-and-done scenario?). The thing I hate most about the first round games against a conference opponent (at least in the case of WLU) is that the element of surprise is off the table. WVSU knows exactly what to expect and exactly what speed it'll come at you (whereas, someone like Malone was a little caught off guard last year). It seemed like in the past, much of WLU's success in this tournament traditionally hinged on teams being unfamiliar with what they do or how fast it actually comes at you when you're in it.

[Columbuseer]

The MEC tourney demonstrated the versatility and grittiness of wlu. This is a different team from the traditional wlu team that depended on good three point shooting.

wheeling, fairmont and Charleston all used different strategies with considerable success and wlu weathered them despite some sub-par aspects of their games.

Unlike past teams, this team has the defensive half court chops to play a 1940s era low scoring half court high post low post game. We now have 4 players who can guard a post player in Viktor, Marlon, Bryce, and Sarson. We also have lockdown defensive guards.

Wvsu is a huge challenge. If they are clicking they can dominate. Took out embry riddle. Arguably best overall collection of 1-on-1 athletes in mec.

[Layton]

Good to see the MEC tournament stay in wheeling for at least a few more years

[Scrub]

Hate to see Audrey Tingle's career come to an end. I thought the Hilltoppers had an outside chance at that last spot in the Women's field (the spot that went to IUP's women). A healthier season out of that roster (such as not having to play Concord without 3 starters back in January) picks up an extra win or two, and Coach Cooper is likely dancing.

[Scrub]

Side note: the Commish and the building operators had to be thrilled to see WLU survive that game. By the time the WLU game was over, the several thousand fans who were in the building turned into a quiet couple hundred for the Fairmont/NDC game. And if Wheeling (who just doesn't seem to draw quite as well as WLU despite also being local) had upset WLU last night, there were going to be a LOT of unsold seats and unsold beers for the next two days. With WLU surviving last night, the building operators can guarantee at least one more biggish payday. Then, even if the finals is a Charletson/Fairmont matchup, it's a decent chance those fanbases make the trip for a Sunday afternoon final. So, the Commish & building operators survived the worst case scenario and have probably salvaged enough profit to continue to justify keeping the tourney in that building.

[Scrub]

That game is what happens when teams know each other too well. It's the old adage about beating a team 3 times in one season. Wheeling knew what they had to do, had two chances earlier in the season to practice the game plan against WLU, and they darn near pulled it off.

Howlett said it in the postgame interview (paraphrase): "We were trying to drive lanes that just weren't there in the first half." Translation: too much one-on-one basketball in a crowded lane. And that may have been a panic response to the fact that the outside shots weren't falling. Players/coaches have noted before that it's hard to shoot in that building (for some reason--sightlines maybe?). So when the shots weren't falling early, instead of trusting the process, some of WLU's elite athletes were putting their heads down and trying to make difficult shots. Credit Wheeling for packing the lane and defending that well. But WLU has to be smarter with the basketball tonight if they're going to beat Fairmont.

I'll be very interested to see how WLU matches up with Fairmont minus Younkin. Younkin has been a matchup nightmare for WLU in the past few years--some of his biggest career games have come against the Hilltoppers. Fairmont without Younkin will be a different matchup entirely. Now, Mangas really stepped up in the Forward spot last night against NDC, but WLU probably matches up pretty well against a 4-guard/1-smallish-big lineup. It'll be a different look when these teams match up tonight without Younkin for sure.

And sad for that young man not to get to play down the playoff stretch of his Senior season.